Department for Transport

Roads: Hertfordshire

Sir Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support his Department is giving to Hertfordshire County Council to assist with the upkeep of local roads.

Andrew Jones: My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport announced on 23 December 2014 funding allocations for local highway authorities in England between 2015/16 and 2020/21. This includes over £92 million for Hertfordshire. This funding can be used to reduce the number of potholes on the local road network. It is for each local highway authority to improve the condition of the local road network through planned preventative maintenance. The Department for Transport’s role is to support local authorities through the provision of funding and by sharing good practice. Further information on the funding allocations can be found at the following address: http://maps.dft.gov.uk/local-highways-maintenance-funding/

Midland Main Railway Line: Electrification

Mr Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to reinstate the half-hourly train service north from Kettering when the Midland mainline is electrified.

Claire Perry: Network Rail will be undertaking timetable modelling to determine the stopping pattern for passenger trains following electrification of the Midland Mainline. This work is only at a very early stage and it is not possible for me at the moment to confirm whether or not it will be viable to reinstate the half hourly train service north from Kettering.

Transport for London: Finance

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to provide additional financial support to Transport for London for the purposes of meeting the cost of increasing rail fares by RPI in 2016.

Claire Perry: We recognise that our commitment to cap regulated rail fares at RPI+0% for the term of this Parliament is likely to have an impact on Transport for London’s revenues. The Department will continue to discuss the implications of this with Transport for London.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the plans for Euston Station and High Speed 2 will be announced; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robert Goodwill: As part of its plans for High Speed 2, HS2 Ltd is reviewing its proposals for the redevelopment of Euston Station and is proposing to deposit revised plans for the station in an Additional Provision to the Phase One hybrid Bill later this year.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Phase 2 route of High Speed 2 will be announced.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government is considering the responses to the consultation on the route from the West Midlands to Manchester, Leeds and beyond. It will set out how it plans to take forward HS2 Phase Two later this year.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of the route of Phase 1 of High Speed 2 has been surveyed.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Where access to land has been secured, physical surveys have been made possible on over 80% of the route. ‎In those locations where this has not yet been possible, desk based research (for example, using data sets provided from Statutory Agencies, Local Authorities and local Wildlife Trusts) and aerial surveys have been undertaken. The results of these are detailed in the Environmental Statement for Phase One, published to accompany the deposit of the hybrid Bill and the subsequent Additional Provisions.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Scotland

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the report on the extension of High Speed 2 to Scotland will be published; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Advice prepared by HS2 Ltd in conjunction with the Department for Transport, Transport Scotland and the Scotland Office to identify broad options for high speed and upgraded railways to the north of England and Scotland is currently with Ministers for consideration. This advice will be published in due course.

Driving: Licensing

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with vehicle hire companies on the ending of the physical paper driving licence.

Andrew Jones: The photocard licence remains a physical document. The changes which took place on 8 June abolished the paper counterpart to the driving licence. Old style paper licences remain valid. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has actively engaged with the vehicle rental industry about the abolition of the paper counterpart to the driving licence. Recently, this has included weekly conference calls with the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) and also a number of workshops with a large number of car hire company representatives. A comprehensive range of publicity materials was developed specifically for the vehicle rental sector and its customers. These were intended to help businesses to prepare themselves and their customers for the change. These communications were also provided to Lease Europe, which is the European equivalent of the BVRLA. The full range of publicity material is online at http://dvla.dft.gov.uk/dvla-aoc-toolkit.html

Driving: Licensing

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information campaign was in place to publicise the end of the physical paper driving licence; and what feedback has been received on the effectiveness of that campaign.

Andrew Jones: The photocard licence remains a physical document. The changes which took place on 8 June only abolished the paper counterpart. Old style paper licences remain valid. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) utilised media, online and direct mail channels. It also engaged directly with trade organisations and car hire companies who may need to check the status of drivers. Since March 2015, the DVLA has written directly to 640,000 professional bus and lorry drivers and sent information to around a million drivers each month. Information on GOV.UK about the change has been viewed over 2.6 million times and 40 pre-planned broadcast interviews were undertaken on 8 June. The information that was previously on the counterpart is still available to the police, courts and insurance companies via a dedicated system.

Railways: Franchises

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the rail franchise system.

Claire Perry: We continuously monitor a range of indicators, including performance figures and passenger satisfaction. Rail use is at its highest level since the 1920s: 1.65 billion passenger journeys were made in Great Britain on franchised passenger trains in 2014-15. The number of journeys made on the rail network has more than doubled since the introduction of the franchise system.

Tyne and Wear Metro: Performance Standards

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the performance of the Tyne and Wear Metro.

Claire Perry: Performance during the period of DB Regio’s operation of the Metro concession has declined from an average of 86.62% Charter Punctuality (which is measured at 3 or more minutes late) in 2010/11 to only 80.37% in 2014/15. Responsibility for the letting and operation of the Tyne and Wear Metro concession is a devolved matter and the monitoring of the concession performance rests with Nexus (the Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Executive). Regular updates are provided to North East Combined Authority meetings, where performance has been scrutinised. I can confirm that the government is investing £350m over 10 years to renew infrastructure on the Metro, which is already delivering longer term reliability and resilience.

Road Traffic

Jo Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to alleviate road congestion.

Andrew Jones: The Government’s Road Investment Strategy has committed £15bn to deliver 127 schemes on the strategic road network over the next five years. Some of these schemes will tackle longstanding congestion and safety problems as well as major capacity enhancements around Yorkshire. On local roads a programme of major local schemes with around £1 billion of Departmental funding has been announced.

Bus Services

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of bus services in England.

Andrew Jones: The Government is committed to supporting bus services in England. The most recent Bus Passenger Survey, published in March by Transport Focus, shows a satisfaction rate of 88%. And we are also taking forward a Buses bill to provide local authorities with the tools they need to improve local bus services.

East Anglia Railway Line: Franchises

Sir Alan Haselhurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on rail franchising in the Greater Anglia region.

Claire Perry: Our policy is for franchising in the Greater Anglia region and nationally to support economic growth and deliver improvements for passengers. We held a public consultation on the future of franchising in the East Anglia region and the results of this will be taken into account in the requirements for the current franchise competition. We expect bidders to exceed these requirements. The Invitation To Tender will be provided to bidders in August and we will announce a winner in July 2016.

Roads: Safety

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department has made on improving road safety.

Andrew Jones: The Department published its Strategic Framework for Road Safety in 2011. Actions were implemented in all three framework areas, improving road safety together, education, and targeted enforcement and sanctions. A full progress report from 2013 is available on GOV.UK. Since then the Department has also made it an offence to drive with certain levels of drugs in your body; and drivers cannot demand a blood or urine test if they fail a breathalyser test anymore.

Rolling Stock: Standards

Julie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the performance and quality of rolling stock on the national rail network.

Claire Perry: Under successive Governments, the quality of rolling stock on the national network has not kept up with either demand or passengers’ expectations. This is why replacement and renewal of rolling stock is an integral part of the Government’s ambitious plans for the rail network. Improvements in rolling stock are key to the Government’s Rail Investment Strategy, with a record £38 billion being spent as part of the largest modernisation of the railways since Victorian times. This includes the new Intercity Express trains that will be built in the UK and serve passengers travelling on Great Western and East Coast, as well as the new Thameslink trains that will operate on commuter routes north and south of London.

Home Office

Vetting

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the appropriateness of the length of time taken to process Disclosure and Barring Service checks; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the average length of time taken to process Disclosure and Barring Service checks (a) in the West Midlands and (b) nationally.

Karen Bradley: The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) receives around 4 million disclosure applications a year and provides the Home Office with monthly updates on the length of time taken to process disclosure checks. Latest figures relating to May 2015 show that 94.6% of disclosure applications were processed within 56 days against a DBS service standard to issue 95% of all disclosures within this time. Most disclosure applications are processed in a shorter timescale and, in May 2015, 87.3% of applications were processed within 21 days. The average time taken to process applications nationally in May 2015 was 14.2 days and in the West Midlands 24.7 days.A key aspect of DBS administration is to ensure that disclosure checks are both accurate and completed within service standard timescales. In the small proportion of cases where checks have not been completed within these timescales, the DBS is expected to take the necessary steps to progress the case including, as appropriate, working with the police and other parties involved in the checking process.

Police: West Midlands

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the policing budget for the West Midlands in each of the next five years.

Mike Penning: No decisions have been taken on police funding beyond 2015/16. Future funding levels will be subject to the outcome of the Spending Review later this year. However, as my Rt. Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made clear in his Budget Statement on 18 March, sustained economic stability will require difficult decisions to be made about public spending .

Police: West Midlands

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will review the expected standard of front-line policing in the West Midlands over the next five years.

Mike Penning: Decisions on the size and distribution of the police workforce are operational matters for Chief Officers working with their Police and Crime Commissioner, taking into account local priorities.

Police: West Midlands

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations she has received on front-line policing in the West Midlands; and if she will make a statement.

Mike Penning: Ministers are in regular contact with Police and Crime Commissioners and other interested parties and discuss a variety of matters, including resources. No specific representations regarding front line policing have been received recently.

Human Trafficking

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to eliminate people trafficking into the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Karen Bradley: This Government is determined to tackle the scourge of human trafficking and modern slavery. We will do this by supporting the victims and relentlessly pursuing the perpetrators of theses horrendous crimes.We are now focused on implementing the provisions of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the wider Modern Slavery Strategy, which was published in November last year. These include measures to bring into effect modern slavery offences with potential life sentences; a statutory defence for victims; an independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner; improving transparency in supply chains; and working with international partners to disrupt the threat across the world.This work will make a real difference in our fight against modern slavery and will help to protect many more vulnerable people from lives of servitude.

Illegal Immigrants

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to end the practice of illegal migration in small boats; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Arrests: South Yorkshire

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the number of arrests made in (a) Barnsley East constituency, (b) Barnsley and (c) South Yorkshire in each of the last five years.

Mike Penning: The Home Office publishes data on the number of arrests in the South Yorkshire police force area. These data include the total number of arrests, and breakdowns by gender, age, and ethnicity of the person arrested, and the offence type that they were arrested for. These data are all published annually, and the latest data, which cover the year 2013/14, can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/421809/ppp-arrests-2014-tabs.odsData for previous years can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-walesThe Home Office does not hold data centrally on the number of arrests made in parliamentary constituencies, or individual towns or cities.

Drugs

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the findings of the annual report of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction on legal highs, published on 4 June 2015; and what plans she has to review her policy on legal highs.

Mike Penning: On 28 May, the Government introduced the Psychoactive Substances Bill in the House of Lords, which provides for a blanket ban on the production, distribution, sale and supply of psychoactive substances. This will apply to both online and offline markets and give police, other law enforcement agencies and local authorities the power to take action where necessary.We are also taking forward a comprehensive action plan on new psychoactive substances (NPS) to enhance our response to prevention, treatment and information sharing. For example, we have launched a tool kit to help local areas prevent and respond to NPS use, published clinical guidelines and we continue to proactively monitor NPS in the UK through our Forensic Early Warning System and Drugs Early Warning System.All of the six NPS recently risk-assessed by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction are already permanently controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Travel: Insurance

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to promote the use of travel insurance by people travelling on holiday abroad.

James Duddridge: Encouraging travellers to obtain comprehensive travel insurance is a key part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s ‘Know Before You Go’ communications campaign, which has been active since 2001. Messaging on insurance is prominent in many of our travel safety materials and we run specific campaigns on insurance. In May this year we worked with the Association of British Insurers to create a new ‘checklist’ to help travellers choose the right insurance policy for their needs, which we communicated through social media and our network of industry partners. I believe our ‘Know Before You Go’ partners have a crucial role to play, and have urged them to continuing working with us to encourage British nationals to travel with insurance – including at our last annual gathering of partners in December 2014. Our messages on insurance have also been reinforced by broadcasts on a wide range of national, regional and community TV and radio stations.

Conferences

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which of his Cabinet colleagues will represent the UK at the (a) UN Financing for Development Conference in Addis Ababa from 13 to 16 July, (b) UN Summit to adopt the post-2015 development agenda in New York from 25 to 27 September and (c) Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris from 30 November to 11 December.

James Duddridge: The UK delegation to each event will be finalised closer to the time.

Conferences

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether Scottish Government Ministers or officials will be invited to join the UK delegation to the (a) UN Financing for Development Conference in Addis Ababa from 13 to 16 July, (b) UN Summit to adopt the post-2015 development agenda in New York from 25 to 27 September and (c) Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris from 30 November to 11 December.

James Duddridge: The UK delegation to each event will be finalised closer to the time.

Nigeria: Armed Conflict

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department is providing to the Nigerian authorities to counter violence and militant attacks.

James Duddridge: The UK fully supports the efforts of Nigeria and its neighbours to tackle Boko Haram. This includes providing a substantial package of UK intelligence and military support, including training and advice to Nigerian units deploying against Boko Haram in north east Nigeria. The UK is also providing £5 million to support the regional Multinational Joint Task Force to tackle Boko Haram. My Hon Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP) the Foreign Secretary offered further support to Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram when he met President Buhari on 29 May 2015.Our support to Nigeria on counter terrorism is designed not only to counter terrorism, but also to improve human rights standards.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Families

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the Prime Minister's press release of 18 August 2014, what steps he is taking to assess the impact of his Department's policies on the family.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Family Test was announced by the Prime Minister in August 2014 and introduced in October 2014 through the publication of guidance for officials - Family Test Guidance.The objective of the Test is to introduce a family perspective to the policy making process, specifically to make the potential impacts on family functioning and relationships explicit.The Foreign and Commonwealth (FCO) has not applied the Test to date as The Family Test applies to domestic policy only.

Northern Ireland Office

Parades: Northern Ireland

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with devolved institutions in Northern Ireland to ensure a safe and peaceful 2015 marching season.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: I meet the Minister for Justice for Northern Ireland and Chief Constable on a regular basis to discuss a range of security issues including those relating to parades. The most recent meeting took place on Wednesday 20 May.I also met the Chief Constable separately on Monday 8 June during which we had a further discussion about the summer parading season.

Northern Ireland Office: Families

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the Prime Minister's press release of 18 August 2014, what steps she is taking to assess the impact of her Department's policies on the family.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: The majority of Northern Ireland policy which has an impact on the family is devolved. The Northern Ireland Office will consider any implications for, and impact on, families in its policymaking process.

Human Rights Act 1998: Northern Ireland

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer from the Parliamentary  Under-Secretary of State for Justice of 3 June 2015 to Question 368, what assessment she has made of the potential implications of the Government's plans to repeal the Human Rights Act 1998 on the existing devolution settlement in Northern Ireland.

Mr Ben Wallace: We remain committed to upholding our obligations as set out in Part 6 of the Belfast Agreement.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Exports: Telephone Services

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department plans to take to promote helpline services for UK exporters and firms seeking to export.

Anna Soubry: UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the Government Department that helps UK exporters and companies seeking to export, provides details of its main helpline (+44 (0)20 7215 5000) on its publications and its website at www.gov.uk/ukti. UKTI has an ongoing programme of activities to promote its services to potential and existing exporters. When promoting specific activities e.g. an event, UKTI provides customers with the contact point most relevant to the activity rather than the helpline itself. In line with government strategy of being digital by default UKTI will provide an online enquiry form or a contact email address as the preferred option to contact us and receive our services.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Public Expenditure

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to HM Treasury's press release, Chancellor announces £4.5 billion of measures to bring down debt, published on 4 June 2015, what assessment he has made of the effect on productivity of delivering efficiency savings from his Department's budget.

Anna Soubry: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will deliver £450 million of the Chancellor’s announced £4.5 billion savings announced on the 4th June. The majority of this will be delivered through known underspends and releasing unallocated funding. Officials in the department are working with the appropriate funding bodies to determine how savings can best be achieved in line with Ministerial priorities. Priority areas for growth and productivity, including funding for apprenticeships and science, will not be affected – raising the skill level of the workforce and developing new ideas are fundamental drivers of long-run productivity growth.

Construction Industry Council

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his policy is on future government support for the Construction Industry Council.

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his policy is on future government support for the Automotive Council.

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his policy is on future government support for the Aerospace Growth Partnership.

Anna Soubry: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills will work closely with industry and businesses to understand their needs and what more the Government can do to retain the UK’s competitive position within the global economy. The biggest challenge facing the economy is improving productivity and it is important to recognise that the productivity challenge is different sector by sector. Regular dialogue and working with business, including through the sector councils, as part of our wider industrial approach, is a vital part of that.

Space Technology

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his policy is on future government support for the UK space sector.

Joseph Johnson: The UK has a thriving space sector worth £11.3b to the economy and satellites have been acknowledged as one of the UK’s Eight Great technologies, fundamental to our future economy. The UK’s Civil Space Strategy, 2012 to 2016, will continue to guide policy in line with the goal of space contributing £40 billion a year to the UK economy by 2030.   As part of the Deregulation Bill, reforms to the existing Outer Space Act will come into force in October - reducing the burden on satellite operators, making the UK more competitive globally, particularly building on our expertise in small satellites. This continued growth is enabled by balanced investment in national and European space programmes.   At the European Space Agency’s Council of Ministers in December 2014, we committed additional investment of more than £200 million in Europe’s space programme, enabling the UK to further collaborate with Europe and develop world leading technologies, services and science missions. While individual opportunities will continue to be evaluated on their own merit, our broad policy goals remain: economic growth, scientific excellence and maximum benefit to citizens.   Working across government is central to achieving these aims. For example, the UK Space Agency jointly published the National Space Security Policy in April 2014 with the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Defence and Foreign Office, to set out a coherent approach to the UK’s space security interests, and the publication of a National Space Policy later this year will spell out the principles which underpin the UK approach to space.

Office for Life Sciences

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his policy is on future government support for the Office for Life Sciences.

George Freeman: Our manifesto committed to support the long-term economic plan by fostering research, innovation and jobs in the life science industry. We will therefore continue to invest in growing the life sciences sector, to help people compete and win in the intense global race for high value, high knowledge jobs, to unleash the potential of innovation, and to drive investment and growth in the UK economy. The Office of Life Sciences will continue to be an important part of that.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Older People

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she has taken to ensure that the UK's international development strategy supports older people.

Grant Shapps: DFID is committed to ensuring that the specific needs of the most vulnerable and marginalised, including older people, are addressed in everything DFID does. This includes in our country programmes and humanitarian responses, through DFID-supported social protection programmes such as the Senior Citizen’s Grant in Uganda and by committing to making age-disaggregated data is a requirement for humanitarian financing. DFID also funds a number of civil society organisations who support older people, including a significant partnership with HelpAge International. DFID’s disability framework, published in December 2014, highlights the importance of specifically addressing the needs of older people.

Department for International Development: Families

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Prime Minister's press release of 18 August 2014, what steps she is taking to assess the impact of her Department's policies on the family.

Grant Shapps: The Family Test was announced by the Prime Minister in August 2014 and introduced in October 2014 for domestic policies through the publication of guidance for officials – Family Test Guidance. The objective of the Test is to introduce a family perspective to the policy-making process, specifically to make the potential impacts on family functioning and relationships explicit. The Department for International Development (DFID) leads the UK’s work to end extreme poverty internationally. In this respect the welfare of the world’s poorest – both individuals and families – are central to DFID’s work. DFID does not however have a leading responsibility for domestic policies and has not therefore made any assessments using the Family Test.

Department for Education

Schools: Torbay

Kevin Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support her Department is providing to the local council in Torbay to improve the supply and quality of local school places.

Edward Timpson: Local authorities are responsible for planning and securing sufficient school places in their area, and supporting them in doing so is one of this government’s top priorities. Basic need funding is allocated to local authorities to support them in their work creating new school places. We use data provided by authorities to ensure funding is targeted according to levels of need in each area. Torbay has received £6 million of basic need funding for 2011-15, helping to create 147 new school places by the end of the academic year 2014-15, with many more in the pipeline. The 2015-18 basic need funding allocation for Torbay is £10 million. The previous government published the first primary basic need scorecards to hold local authorities to account for the quality of the places they create. Torbay’s scorecard showed that as of summer 2013, 94% of primary places were created in ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ schools.

Academies: Standards

Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many Academies were rated as requires improvement or worse by Ofsted at their last inspection.

Nick Gibb: This is a matter for Ofsted. I have asked Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, to write to the Hon Member with the information requested. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House library.

Schools: Standards

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools which have remained as maintained schools following an inadequate Ofsted grade and been subsequently re-inspected have been graded (a) outstanding, (b) good, (c) requires improvement and (d) inadequate.

Nick Gibb: This is a matter for Ofsted. I have asked Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, to write to the Hon Member with the information requested. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House library.

Academies

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2015 to Questions 646 to 649, what the names are of the 30 federated schools which have been granted an academy order but for which no academy agreement has been signed.

Edward Timpson: The 30 schools referred to in the answer were schools for which academy orders had been made for them to progress to open as converter academies, and which were listed on http://www.education.gov.uk/edubase/ as being in a federation. Edubase records do not distinguish between different types of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ federation and not all will be federations with a single governing body as set out in the School Governance (Federations) (England) Regulations 2012. The schools to which the answer referred are:  School NameLocal AuthoritySeagry Church of England Primary SchoolWiltshireSomerfords' Walter Powell VA CofE Primary SchoolWiltshireHammond Community Junior SchoolSurreyLightwater Village SchoolSurreyCicely Haughton SchoolStaffordshireLoxley Hall SchoolStaffordshireClayton Hall Business and Language CollegeStaffordshireNCHS The Science CollegeStaffordshireNewall Green Primary SchoolManchesterChorlton Park Primary SchoolManchesterOld Moat Community Primary SchoolManchesterAegir Community SchoolLincolnshireWarren Wood Community SchoolLincolnshirePrendergast Ladywell SchoolLewishamPrendergast Vale SchoolLewishamSt Mary's SchoolEast SussexNew Horizons SchoolEast SussexCuckmere House SchoolEast SussexSt Rumon's Church of England (VC) Infants SchoolDevonGunnislake Primary SchoolCornwallPrince Albert Junior and Infant SchoolBirminghamHeathfield Primary SchoolBirminghamAll Saints CofE SchoolSomersetDulverton Middle and Community SchoolSomersetExford Church of England First SchoolSomersetThe Duchess's Community High SchoolNorthumberlandAlnwick Lindisfarne Middle SchoolNorthumberlandAlnwick the Dukes Middle SchoolNorthumberlandTenterden Church of England Junior SchoolKentTenterden Infant SchoolKent

Academies: Standards

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many academy schools rated inadequate by Ofsted since the new Ofsted categories were introduced have been transferred to a new sponsor.

Edward Timpson: Looking only at inspection judgements since the introduction of the new Ofsted framework in September 2012, there are 35 academies that have transferred to a new sponsor while in Ofsted category 4. Ofsted inspections are taken from Ofsted’s published lists found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/monthly-management-information-ofsteds-school-inspections-outcomes

Schools: Standards

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many maintained schools graded as inadequate by Ofsted have converted to Academy status and have been re-inspected and been graded (a) outstanding, (b) good, (c) requires improvement and (d) inadequate.

Edward Timpson: This question is a matter for Ofsted. I have asked HM Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, to write to the Hon. Member, and a copy of his response will be placed in the House Libraries.

Education and Adoption Bill

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2015 to Question 1006, whether the  parliamentary scrutiny cited in that Answer refers to the publication of those draft regulations before Second Reading of the Education and Adoption Bill.

Edward Timpson: We are engaging closely with interested parties to develop the coasting regulations.   We will publish draft regulations to enable scrutiny at Committee stage.

Ministry of Justice

Employment Tribunals Service

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average length of time was for fee remission in employment tribunal claims in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of fee remission applications were successful in that period.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The figures are published in the latest quarterly bulletin on Tribunal statistics, published on 11 June, which is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics.

Employment Tribunals Service: Fees and Charges

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much income from employment tribunal fees has been raised since their introduction; and what amount of such fees has been repaid to claimants.

Mr Shailesh Vara: Income from employment tribunals is published in the HMCTS annual report and accounts for 2014-15, which were laid in Parliament on 10 June 2015. In 2013-14, £4.5m was collected in employment tribunal fees. In 2014-15, £9m was collected in employment tribunal fees, making total receipts from the introduction of employment tribunal fees in July 2013 to the end of the 2014-15 financial year £13.5m. The cost of fee remissions between July 2013 & March 2015 was £4m (2013-14 £0.7m and 2014/15 £3.3m).

Perinatal Mortality: Coroners

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the inquest into the death of Clara Tully, if he will bring forward proposals to allow inquests on infants who die during labour.

Caroline Dinenage: Coroners must investigate all deaths which are sudden, unnatural, violent, or of unknown cause. This can include deaths of newborn babies such as in the tragic case of Clara Tully. Coroners cannot by law investigate cases in which a child has not lived independently of its mother, such as stillbirths. They can, however, open an investigation if there is any doubt over whether there was independent life, once they have received a report of the case. There are also hospital and medical investigations into stillbirths.The Chief Coroner, HHJ Peter Thornton QC, is considering actions to improve consistency and good practice.

Ministry of Justice: Families

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Prime Minister's press release of 18 August 2014, what steps he is taking to assess the impact of his Department's policies on the family.

Caroline Dinenage: The Family Test was announced by the Prime Minister in August 2014 and introduced in October 2014 through the publication of guidance for officials - Family Test GuidanceThe Ministry of Justice has applied the Test since it was introduced. The DWP is working with all departments to embed the Test in the policymaking process.

Employment Tribunals Service: Fees and Charges

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the amount of money recovered from employment tribunal fees when claims are settled before a final hearing over the last three years; what proportion that amount is of the total fees charged; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Shailesh Vara: I have been asked to reply as responsibility for this falls within the Ministry of Justice's remit. We do not currently track the fees paid to commence proceedings in the Employment Tribunal linked to case outcomes, and we therefore cannot provide an estimate of the income received from claims which settle before final hearing.

Employment Tribunals Service: Fees and Charges

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans to conduct a review of the effects of the introduction of employment tribunal fees.

Mr Shailesh Vara: When fees were introduced in the Employment Tribunals, in July 2013, the Government made a commitment to review their impact. Today I have announced the start of that review in a statement on the Ministry of Justice website.The review will consider how effective the introduction of fees has been at meeting the original objectives, while maintaining access to justice. The original objectives were:i) to transfer some of the cost from the taxpayer to those who use the service, where they can afford to do so;ii) to encourage the use of alternative dispute resolution services, for example, ACAS conciliation; andiii) to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the tribunal.It will also consider the effectiveness of the new fee remissions scheme, which was introduced in October 2013.The review will take into account a wide range of evidence including: tribunal data on case volumes, case progression and case outcomes; qualitative research on the views of court and tribunal users; the general trend of the number of cases appearing at tribunals before the fees were introduced; any consequences arising as a result of an improved economy on the number of people being dismissed; to what extent there has been discouragement of weak or unmeritorious claims; whether there has been any impact because of changes in employment law; and other reasons for changes in user behaviour.The terms of reference for the review have been published alongside my statement on the Ministry of Justice website and I have placed a copy of that statement and the terms of reference in the libraries of both Houses.The review is expected to be completed later in the year.

Equal Pay

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to section 98 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013, how many and which companies have been ordered to conduct equal pay audits by an employment tribunal since the introduction of the regulations in that section.

Mr Shailesh Vara: This data is not collated centrally by HM Courts & Tribunals Service. This information could only be provided at a disproportionate cost by manually checking hard copy tribunal files or judgments.

Young Offender Institutions: Employment

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the average number of hours of purposeful activity delivered each week at each young offenders institution in each year since 2010.

Andrew Selous: Average hours of purposeful activity per prisoner per week was formerly monitored as a performance indicator for all prisons and young offender institutions (YOIs), but this was discontinued at the end of the 2011-12 business year because it was not used in the day-to-day management of establishments. From October 2012 data has been collected on the average number of hours of activity per month young people receive during the main part of weekday regime delivery in public sector under 18 YOIs and this is provided in the tables below. Data collected prior to 2012 is not comparable to the data collected at present and therefore has not been included in this reply. The data collected by privately run under 18 YOIs is also not comparable so again has not been included. While education is the major component of current activity provision, young people are also able to access a wide range of other activities during the main part of the weekday regime such as offending behaviour interventions, resettlement and sentence planning, social and professional visits and religious, healthcare and domestic services. New contracts for education providers in public sector YOIs commenced in March 2015. These will provide an even greater focus on education during this core part of the daily regime, and will see the number of hours of education available more than double. The tables below set out the average number of activity hours provided in each public sector young offender institution per young person per month from October 2012 to April 2015, the latest date for which figures are available (- indicates that the establishment was not holding under 18s at the date in question). 2012 OctNovDecCookham Wood9376105Downview127156148Eastwood Park122110133Feltham9689105Hindley100125115New Hall1125171Warren Hill112108111Werrington108107100Wetherby114112116 2013 JanFebMarAprilMayJuneJulyAugSeptOctNovDecCookham Wood8680728087801019192111101108Downview107132217133100108127-----Eastwood Park14387121151138112------Feltham86871138682911019088887984Hindley122106117126121107124120116128111110New Hall18415413030112859------Warren Hill11294100104998290978810192120Werrington909310111310698106108100116106117Wetherby1201039999105961131089910810198 2014 JanFebMarAprilMayJuneJulyAugSeptOctNovDecCookham Wood1019198878884758082907386Feltham817274798177868091916891Hindley1061021079510610711711112012399165Warren Hill84-----------Werrington1089610511112510311498110115100105Wetherby102939710197931049499987991 2015 JanFebMarAprilCookham Wood72546462Feltham85778280Hindley236---Werrington9810210996Wetherby76647487

Youth Custody: Staff

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the ratio of staff to young person in each (a) young offender institution and (b) secure training centre in each year since 2010.

Andrew Selous: The youth secure estate comprises under 18 Young Offender Institutions (YOIs), Secure Training Centres (STCs) and Secure Children’s Homes. These three sectors have a range of staffing ratios in order to meet the wide ranging needs of young people in custody. Young people are placed in establishments that can most effectively manage their individual needs. The information set out in Table 1 refers to the number of young people per prison officer in each public sector YOI establishment that holds under 18s. Where an establishment accommodates different age groups the ratios reflect staffing in the entire establishment. For this reason the ratios shown may not reflect actual staffing levels in the under 18 units. Table 1: The number of young people per prison officer (including specialists)in public sector YOIs holding young people aged under 18, 2010 to 2015Establishment201020112012201320142015Cookham Wood1.40.91.11.01.51.8Downview3.72.93.93.6--Eastwood Park2.72.72.82.1--Feltham2.12.22.22.02.12.2Foston Hall2.1-----Hindley1.61.61.50.91.9 Huntercombe1.3-----Stoke Heath3.2-----Warren Hill1.31.11.31.0--Werrington2.02.31.81.81.81.3Wetherby1.91.71.81.21.31.6 Notes:1. ‘-‘indicates that the establishment was not holding under 18s at the date in question.2. Staff to young person ratios in public sector Prison Service establishments is reported as the number of prisoners held in an establishment divided by the number prison officers (including specialists) employed. Ratios do not reflect the number of officers on duty at any particular moment.3. Data presented relates to monthly snapshots taken in each year since 2010. STCs provide a secure environment where young people can be educated and rehabilitated. They differ from YOIs in that they have a higher staff to young people ratio and are smaller in size. STCs are required to operate above minimum staffing levels specified by the YJB for different times of day. These are monitored by the YJB and have not changed since 2010. Minimum staffing levels for the normal operating model are illustrated in Table 2, which also indicates unit sizes at each of the four establishments. Table 2: Minimum staffing levels for STCs by unit sizeUnit sizeMinimum staffing levelsEstablishment5 bed2 custodial staff:5 young peopleMedway, Rainsbrook6 bed2 custodial staff:6 young peopleMedway, Rainsbrook7 bed2 custodial staff:7 young peopleHassockfield8 bed3 custodial staff:8 young peopleMedway, Oakhill, Rainsbrook

Young Offender Institutions: Restraint Techniques

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of incidents where restraint was used in each young offender institution in each year since 2010.

Andrew Selous: Prison staff are trained to use specific systems of restraint to control violent prisoners. Wherever possible staff will try to de-escalate the situation by persuasion or negotiation. Staff only use restraint as a last resort to prevent violence, and where no other means of controlling the prisoner is possible. Where restraint techniques have to be applied, the minimum amount of force will be used for as short a time as possible. Healthcare staff examine all prisoners on whom force has been used. Young Offender Institutions are responsible for holding Young People aged 15 to 17 and, in separate parts of the establishment, Young Adults aged 18 to 21. NOMS has developed a specialised system of restraint which is designed and independently accredited for use with Young People. This aims to minimise any use of physical force and, where it is used, to reduce the risk of injury to Young People as far as possible. All prisons submit a central monthly return setting out the number of times force, including restraint has been used against individual prisoners. These figures include any incident where physical force was used against a prisoner no matter how small, including incidents where staff defend themselves from attack and where prisoners are handcuffed. The main measure used for recording use of force is the number of prisoners on whom force has been used, rather than number of individual incidents. All prisons must have local procedures in place to monitor and review the use of force within the establishment, including monitoring trends. Since 2010 the number of times force has been used has fallen. Table 1 provides details of the number of Young People and Young Adults on whom force of any description was used categorised by Young Offender Institution1 and year.Table 1: Number of young people and young adults on whom force was used, by establishment and calendar year Prison Name20102011201220132014TOTAL10,09811,3239,52810,3109,080ALBANY4000-ALTCOURSE74114135135153ASHFIELD6652,2111,1141810AYLESBURY376251215220385BEDFORD2939302930BELMARSH0002137BRINSFORD242326324245603BRISTOL2343262431BRONZEFIELD6266282524BULLINGDON000530CARDIFF0011124CASTINGTON12400--CHELMSFORD2022651565193COOKHAM WOOD461399564408674DEERBOLT189283118212274DONCASTER10611172136154DORCHESTER8192212-DOWNVIEW192036280DRAKE HALL00807DURHAM133132289EASTWOOD PARK6733214924ELMLEY7686532644EXETER3436232235FELTHAM1,3121,0131,2692,0571,574FOREST BANK8203732102FOSTON HALL4538133GLEN PARVA448536580848653GLOUCESTER0418--HIGH DOWN4394936484HIGHPOINT00000HINDLEY587893672547773HOLLESLEY BAY01103HOLLOWAY4336381325HOLME HOUSE518181114HULL1916151330HUNTERCOMBE1320000ISIS63273417405152LANCASTER FARMS321488280310158LEWES823242126LEYHILL00000LINCOLN6111045LITTLEHEY32632018815689LOW NEWTON5091584MOORLAND13544352813NEW HALL3451633020NORTHALLERTON150662313-NORWICH2459374555NOTTINGHAM134333830ONLEY200000PARC390303287236251PENTONVILLE0000124PETERBOROUGH2627964636PORTLAND222242228167131PRESTON00262937READING2502075143-ROCHESTER31124218113532STOKE HEATH44619666305STYAL9774242329SWANSEA1681116SWINFEN HALL143133181117125THAMESIDE--31214145THORN CROSS2510812WANDSWORTH0000118WARREN HILL4512473999423WERRINGTON306435395526530WETHERBY4245785901,033641WINCHESTER0001849WOODHILL6830205145WORMWOOD SCRUBS0005110   Notes to table:1 Includes dedicated Young Offender Institutions and those establishments designated to hold young adults.- denotes the establishment was not open.

Youth Custody: Crimes of Violence

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of assault incidents in each (a) young offender institution and (b) secure training centre in each year since 2010.

Andrew Selous: The safety and welfare of young people in custody is vital, and we take all assaults in youth custody extremely seriously. The number of assaults in youth custody can be influenced by a range of variables, including the size of the cohort and the complexity of the needs presented by young people in each establishment. These elements can differ considerably over time. Statistics on assaults by secure estate sector are provided in Chapter 8 of the Youth Justice Statistics publication, published annually in January: (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/youth-justice-annual-statistics-2013-to-2014). We are currently taking forward a comprehensive programme of work to improve behaviour management in the youth secure estate, which includes a new CPS, Police and NOMS protocol to increase prosecutions for violence in adult and youth custody. A specific action plan to address violence in Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) is being taken forward by NOMS.  Overall, the number of assaults in STCs and under-18 YOIs has fallen since 2010. Table 1 shows the number of assaults in Secure Training Centres (STCs) and under-18 YOIs in each calendar year since 2010. Table 1: Number of assaults in STCs and under-18 YOIs, 2010 to 2014Establishment TypeEstablishment20102011201220132014Secure Training CentresHassockfield184131185230107Medway442389197182201Oakhill178139115150334Rainsbrook294251147205167STC Total1,098910644767809Under-18 Young Offender InstitutionsAshfield294582319450Castington180000Cookham Wood191101269144236Downview1102010Eastwood Park82700Feltham86112153269490Hindley224254163167177Huntercombe720000New Hall163000Parc7099696987Stoke Heath10018000Warren Hill1781091951962Werrington105175162351253Wetherby - Keppel Unit6461595553Wetherby183210188168215YOI Total1,6101,7361,6041,4651,513 1. These figures have been drawn from data published in the annual Youth Justice Statistics publication. 2. Assault is defined as the intentional use of unnecessary force that results in physical contact with the victim. It is not necessary for the victim to suffer injury of any kind. Assaults of a sexual nature are included in these figures. YJB figures are compiled using a different set of rules from figures published in the Safety in Custody statistical bulletin and therefore may differ from the latter. 3. The following establishments were decommissioned by the Youth Justice Board YJB: Castington - 21/08/2010, Huntercombe - 31/08/2010, Fosten Hall - 28/01/2011, Stoke Heath - 11/07/2011, Ashfield - 01/07/2013, New Hall - 04/07/2013, Eastwood Park - 22/07/2013, Downview - 19/08/2013, Warren Hill - 10/02/2014 These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and can be subject to change over time. Figures from April 2014 are provisional. The figures from April 2014 onwards will be finalised in the 2014/15 Youth Justice Statistics, which will be published in 2016.

Prime Minister

Mediterranean Sea: Refugees

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Prime Minister, if the Government will send a representative to the (a) European Council meeting on 25-26 June 2015 and (b) Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting on 16 June 2015 to discuss the situation of refugees attempting to cross the Mediterranean.

Mr David Cameron: It is my normal practice to attend Head of Government European Council meetings, and for the relevant Minister to attend relevant Council meetings.

Ministry of Defence

Military Aid: Iraq

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 2015 to Question 207, whether Explosive Risk Management Ltd was contracted to provide counter-IED training in Iraq in 2014; whether a counter-IED course was provided to Kurdish Peshmerga in 2014; and if he will make a statement.

Penny Mordaunt: Explosive Risk Management Ltd was contracted to deliver C-IED training in Iraq in 2014. Through these training services, a four week course was delivered to the Peshmerga in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in 2014. A similar course was due to be delivered in southern Iraq, but was withdrawn prematurely due to security issues.This contract was not included in my previous answer of 5 June 2015 to Question number 207 as the service was for training not security.

Mediterranean Sea: Refugees

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Royal Navy is taking to deal with the number of migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea.

Penny Mordaunt: The Royal Navy is playing a full part in the international effort to save lives at sea. HMS Bulwark deployed on 4 May 2015 and is working closely with the Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre; efforts so far have saved over 2,900 lives.

Afghanistan: Armed Forces

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will bring forward plans to hold a public inquiry into the British military involvement in Afghanistan since 2006.

Penny Mordaunt: No decisions have been taken by the Government on a review of our engagement in Afghanistan. We remain focused on supporting the National Unity Government of Afghanistan as part of NATO's Resolute Support mission.We have been learning tactical lessons of our operations in Afghanistan throughout the campaign. However, combat operations have only recently ceased, and our focus has been on a successful drawdown from the ISAF combat mission and transition to the NATO Resolute Support mission. We still have around 470 military personnel in Afghanistan, and we need to maintain our focus on supporting them. We will, of course, want to look at the broader lessons that can be learned from the campaign in due course, but the Government will want to do this in a way that would enable us to implement lessons identified quickly and practically, so that they have a real impact.

VJ Day

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has to commemorate the 70th anniversary of VJ Day.

Mark Lancaster: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave during Defence questions on 8 June 2015 (Official Report, columns 893-894) to the hon. Member for Houghton and Sunderland South (Bridget Phillipson).   



VJ Day
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RAF Volunteer Reserve

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civilian pilots were serving in the Royal Air Force Reserves in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Julian Brazier: Whilst Reservists' occupations are recorded, this does not capture those Reservists with civilian pilot qualifications who are not employed as civilian pilots. The information requested is therefore not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The RAF has 26 Volunteer Reserve pilots and 14 Sponsored Reserve pilots who work full time for AirTanker working as both civilian and RAF pilots depending on whether they are flying the civilian or military registered Voyager aircraft.In addition there are 66 full time Reserve Service pilots.

Armed forces: Cadets

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many adult volunteers there were in each of the cadet forces in each year since 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: The following table shows the number of adult volunteers, by each cadet force as of 1 April of each year from 2008 to 2014. NUMBER OF CADET FORCE ADULT VOLUNTEERSFORCE/YEAR2008200920102011201220132014Combined Cadet Force2,2202,2002,0802,1502,1002,1102,810Sea Cadet Corps3,1103,5403,6005,6005,1905,8205,920Army Cadet Force8,3808,3309,4508,4408,3809,8009,440Air Training Corps9,5309,7709,18010,46010,51012,08010,430  This information is included in the UK Reserve Forces and Cadets annual publication available from the .gov.uk website at the following link https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/strength-of-the-uk-reserve-forces-index. The next report, scheduled for publication on 18 June 2015, will include the figures for 2015.

Armed Forces: Disciplinary Proceedings

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2015 to Question 157, on armed forces disciplinary proceedings, from which service each of the 22 complaints were received; how many of the 22 complaints were from (a) serving and (b) former service personnel; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: The following table details from which service each of the 22 Service complaints were received, and whether they are from serving or former Service personnel. ServiceNumber of Service Complaints from Serving Personnel Number of Service Complaints from Former Service PersonnelRoyal Navy06Army313Royal Air Force00 Since my answer of 1 June 2015 to Question 157, a further four Service complaints have been received; one from a serving member of the Royal Navy and three from former Service personnel, two of whom served in the Army and one who served in the Royal Air Force. As I stated in my answer to Question 905 on 9 June 2015, I am happy to meet the hon. Member to discuss this issue. 



Armed Forces: Disciplinary Proceedings
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Armed Forces: Cadets

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) girls and (b) boys were engaged in each of the cadet forces in each year since 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: The following table shows the number of male and female cadets by each cadet force as of 1 April each year from 2008 to 2014. NUMBER OF CADETS BY GENDERFORCE/YEAR2008200920102011201220132014Combined Cadet ForceMale31,99032,61032,22032,39032,35031,46030,200Female11,33012,11011,91012,50012,66012,87012,750Sea Cadet CorpsMale6,1106,1405,5008,5509,2008,8708,730Female3,5203,2602,8104,3604,7204,8604,900Army Cadet ForceMale32,26033,42033,54033,56033,49031,78028,940Female12,55012,50013,46011,33011,62012,09012,100Air Training CorpsMale21,94022,03024,69026,48026,52024,66024,420Female7,8707,9208,8708,7309,2308,8209,170  This information is included in the UK Reserve Forces and Cadets annual publication available from the .gov.uk website at the following link https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/strength-of-the-uk-reserve-forces-index. The next report, scheduled for publication on 18 June 2015, will include the figures for 2015.

Procurement: North West

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of jobs his Department (a) directly and (b) indirectly supports through its supply chain in (i) the North West, (ii) Tameside and (iii) Stockport.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence no longer compiles national or regional defence industry employment statistics as they do not directly support policy-making or operations.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits: Glasgow North

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many benefit recipients have been sanctioned in Glasgow North constituency in the last 12 months.

Priti Patel: The available information is published at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/: Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started---SuperWEB2.html

Social Security Benefits

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to abolish the two-week waiting period before claimants who are designated as not vulnerable may receive a hardship payment.

Priti Patel: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 9 June 2015 to Question UIN 1243.

Social Rented Housing

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made  of the effect on levels of arrears in the social rented sector of requiring all housing benefit claimants in that sector to make a contribution to their rent.

Justin Tomlinson: No assessment has been made.

Local Housing Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made  of the effect of setting local housing allowance rates at the 20th percentile of market rents on (a) levels of arrears in the private rented sector, (b) viability in the buy-to-let sector and (c) affordability for working families with children.

Justin Tomlinson: No assessment has been made at the 20th percentile.

Personal Independence Payment

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answers of 8 June 2015 to Questions 767 and 768, what estimate he has made of the expected additional number of appeals against decisions not to award personal independent payments following a reassessment.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department has previously estimated (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmworpen/916/916we02.htm - section 9 refers) that 40% of individuals in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) undergoing a reassessment to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will appeal their decision, including individuals that are appealing against disallowance of benefit or the level of an award they have received. Information on the number of people in receipt of DLA expected to be reassessed for entitlement to PIP was published on 19 December 2012 and is available on www.gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/timetable-for-introducing-personal-independence-payment-and-estimates-of-projected-caseloads-policy-briefing-note.

Carer's Allowance: South Yorkshire

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were in receipt of carer's allowance in (a) Barnsley East constituency, (b) Barnsley and (c) South Yorkshire in each of the last five years.

Justin Tomlinson: Statistics on people in receipt of Carer’s Allowance is published and available at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/default.asp Guidance for users can be found at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/newuser.asp

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Agriculture: Subsidies

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of Basic Payment scheme payments will be made to UK farmers when the payment window opens in December 2015; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: The Rural Payments Agency has said it will be making full payments as early as possible in the payment window. Payments will start from December and the vast majority will be made by the end of January.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, under what budget stream will the additional costs her Department and the Royal Payments Agency have incurred as a result of changes to the process for submitting an application for the Basic Payment Scheme be met.

George Eustice: Any direct costs will be funded from the Rural Payments Agency.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what costs (a) her Department and (b) the Royal Payments Agency have incurred through reverting to a paper based system for claiming under the Basic Payments Scheme.

George Eustice: Exact costs of the change to the new approach for the Basic Payment Scheme 2015 to Defra and Rural Payments Agency are still being assessed.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her evidence to the EFRA Committee on 11 March 2015, HC942, Q397, what recent reports she has received on whether the maps used on the system for making Basic Payment Scheme payments are up and running.

George Eustice: Ensuring successful delivery of the Basic Payments Scheme (BPS) in 2015 is our priority and the core of the Rural Payments System is working well. We are looking carefully at how best to develop the system, including the mapping functionality, in order to support delivery of the BPS in future years.

Insecticides: Licensing

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to license derivatives of the pesticide known as neonicotinoid for use in the UK.

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to license the pesticide known as neonicotinoid for use in the UK.

George Eustice: Neonicotinoids are a group of chemicals used as active substances in pesticides. Decisions on the approval of pesticide active substances are made at EU level. Five neonicotinoids are currently approved but, since December 2013, three are not permitted for use on a wide range of crops considered “attractive to bees”. A number of other uses remain permitted under the EU approval. The UK has implemented the restrictions in full. These restrictions remain in place until and unless the European Commission decides to change them.   EU legislation also sets out the rules under which Member States consider applications for the authorisation of products. This includes rules for authorisation in emergency situations in crop protection. The Government has received applications for emergency authorisation of neonicotinoid seed treatments for use on oilseed rape and these applications are currently being assessed.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Devolution: Cheshire

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what his policy is on devolution in the Cheshire West and Chester local authority area.

Mr Mark Francois: The Government is open to discussing proposals from any area which would welcome increased powers and greater freedoms to maximise their economic growth, providing the case can be made that there is both strong governance and the capacity and capability to deliver.

Right to Buy Scheme

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with banks and other financial institutions about extension of the right to buy to encompass housing association properties.

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with housing associations on the expansion of right to buy.

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to consult representatives and bodies within the housing sector on the proposed extension of the right to buy policy before the publication of legislative proposals on that policy.

Brandon Lewis: Ministers and senior officials in my Department are engaging on an ongoing basis with the housing sector, banks and other financial institutions in relation to key policy issues.

Social Rented Housing: Construction

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many homes for social rent were built in each of the last 30 years.

Brandon Lewis: Statistics on total additional new build housing provided for social rent in England, since 1991-92, are published in the Department’s live table 1009, which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supply

Social Rented Housing

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many registered Housing Association properties there are in each English local authority.

Brandon Lewis: Statistics on Private Registered Provider dwelling stock in England and in each local authority district are published in the Department’s live table 115, which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-dwelling-stock-including-vacants

Listed Buildings: Energy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 June 2015 to Question 319, what recent representations his Department has received on heat loss through windows in listed buildings.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 June 2015 to Question 319, whether he has discussed with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change changing planning guidance on listed buildings to reduce heat loss through windows.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 June 2015 to Question 319, on listed buildings, what he plans to discuss when he next meets the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 June 2015 to Question 319, on listed buildings, when he next plans to meet the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 June 2015 to Question 319, on listed buildings,  when officials in his Department met the Department for Energy and Climate Change in the last month.

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 1 June 2015 to Question 319, on listed buildings, what subjects he has discussed with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

Brandon Lewis: In determining applications for replacement windows in listed buildings local planning authorities must take account of national planning policies, including those on the historic environment and supporting energy efficiency improvements to existing buildings. They must weigh up these policies and any other relevant considerations, including the relevant development plan, in considering each case.Government guidance makes clear that conservation is an active process of maintenance and managing change. It recognises that heritage assets are likely to require sympathetic changes from time to time to ensure they remain used and valued.Historic England publishes a range of useful advice on saving energy for owners of listed buildings and developers. This can be found online at: https://www.historicengland.org.uk/advice/your-home/saving-energy/.I will meet my rt.hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Department for Energy and Climate Change soon but in line with the established practice under previous administrations, details are not provided on the topics discussed at meetings between Government Ministers.

Right to Buy Scheme

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the number of housing association tenants who will take up the right to buy in each of the next five years.

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 8 June , PQ 1059.

Scotland Office

Sovereignty: Scotland

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the benefits of enabling 16 and 17 year olds to vote in the Scottish Referendum in 2014.

David Mundell: On 18 September last year, the people of Scotland, including tens of thousands of 16 and 17 year olds, made the historic decision to remain a part of the United Kingdom. Evidence suggests that 84.6% of the electorate voted in the referendum, compared to 75% of registered 16 and 17 year olds.Following that vote, and in line with the agreement from the all-party Smith Commission, the previous Government devolved to the Scottish Parliament the power to legislate to reduce the minimum voting age to 16 at Scottish Parliament and Scottish local government elections.

HM Treasury

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

John Pugh: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to increase compensation to Equitable Life pensioners beyond the level previously agreed.

Harriett Baldwin: The Government has no plans to change the funding available to the Equitable Life Payment Scheme.   To date the Scheme has paid out over £1 billion to around 900,000 policyholders.

NHS: Finance

Paul Flynn: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of allocating an additional £8 billion to the NHS by 2020 on funding available for other departments.

Greg Hands: As a result of this Government’s long-term economic plan, the NHS budget increased in real terms over the last Parliament. In this Parliament, the Government will secure the future of the NHS in England by investing in the NHS’s own five-year plan. Decisions on future departmental savings will be taken at the Spending Review later this year.

Banks: Fines

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what amount of money has accrued to the Exchequer in bank fines in each of the last two years; and how much such money has been allocated to charities in each of the last two years for which figures are available.

Harriett Baldwin: In the last two financial years HM Treasury has received £1.3bn in LIBOR and FX banks fines. All LIBOR penalties received in this time period have been allocated to military or other uniformed charities. All foreign exchange penalties received in this time period have been allocated to create a fund for advanced care in GP practices and community healthcare facilities.

Fuels: Rebates

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons the proprietors of fuel stations in Durness and Scourie have not been reimbursed through the rural fuel rebate scheme for fuel duty reductions they have passed to customers in the IV27 postcode area for claims submitted on 10 May and 1 June 2015.

Damian Hinds: HMRC has a duty to maintain taxpayer confidentiality and cannot comment on individual circumstances.   All claims made for Rural Fuel Duty Relief should be paid provided they meet the criteria set out in the Excise Notice (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/excise-notice-2001-rural-fuel-duty-relief-scheme/excise-notice-2001-rural-fuel-duty-relief-scheme).

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Nuclear Power Stations

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that future nuclear power stations have aesthetic appeal.

Andrea Leadsom: Section 4.5 of the Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy and section 2.8 of the Nuclear National Policy Statement set out the Government’s views on consideration of good design in making proposals for major energy infrastructure, including new nuclear power stations. In doing so, the Overarching Energy NPS states that “high quality and inclusive design goes far beyond aesthetic considerations”. The Planning Inspectorate will take the NPSs into account in considering applications for development.The Energy NPSs are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-policy-statements-for-energy-infrastructure.

Cabinet Office

Voluntary Work: Young People

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2015 to Question 321, what qualifications and at what level are required by non-National Citizens Service personnel in charge of children taking part in residential training weeks under the National Citizen Service scheme.

Mr Rob Wilson: The quality of all staff involved in NCS is vital to its ongoing success. All personnel involved in delivering the residential phase of the programme must hold a DBS certificate, be recruited in line with safer recruiting best practices and possess such qualifications as required to fulfil their roles.

Digital Technology

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what target his Department has for the proportion of the UK population which should be able to access services online; and when he plans to publish an update to the Government's Digital Inclusion Strategy.

Matthew Hancock: The Digital Inclusion Strategy aims to reduce the proportion of UK adults who lack basic digital skills by 25% by 2016, and by a further 25% every two years thereafter.We are working with Government departments, public, private and voluntary sector organisations to assess the need to revise the current Strategy.

Married People: Tax Allowances

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what role the Government Digital Service plays in the delivery of the married couple's allowance online application system; and what assisted digital support is available for people who cannot apply online.

Matthew Hancock: GDS is developing GOV.UK Verify for people to prove their identity and use digital government services safely. HMRC has worked with GDS to develop alternative verification methods for anyone who has difficultly completing the GOV.UK Verify process. Support for customers to complete their digital Marriage Allowance application is available from HMRC online or on the phone.No one need miss out on the Marriage Allowance. People can apply at any stage in the tax year and get the full entitlement regardless of when they submit their claim.

Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to bring forward proposals to amend the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 in response to the review of that Act by Lord Young, published in February 2015.

Mr Rob Wilson: During his review, Lord Young concluded that now was not an appropriate time to amend the Act. However, we have committed to build on his review to ensure that commissioners maximise the potential of social value.

Department for Culture Media and Sport

Direct Selling

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress his Department has made on funding new call blocking technology to protect vulnerable consumers from nuisance communications; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The government is continuing to work to ensure protection of vulnerable consumers from nuisance calls, including considering options for funding call blocking technology. The Ministers will update the House when the final decision has been reached.

Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Privacy and Electronic Communication Regulations; and when consultation on those proposals will begin.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government is currently considering whether to amend the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 (PECR) in order to implement measures to further tackle nuisance calls. There are legal and policy implications in progressing such measures, which we will carefully consider before issuing a consultation or determining the means by which they could be implemented. We remain committed to tackling nuisance calls and intend to build on the effective policies introduced over recent years to protect consumers, such as changes made to PECR earlier this year to enable the Information Commissioner's Office to take enforcement action more easily. We will advance any further measures as quickly as possible and consult in the usual way.

Department of Health

General Practitioners: Recruitment

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to encourage more medical students to consider careers as general practitioners across the UK.

Ben Gummer: NHS England, Health Education England (HEE), the Royal College of General Practitioners (GPs) and the British Medical Association GP Committee are working closely together to ensure that we have a skilled, trained and motivated workforce in general practice.   To encourage medical graduates to consider general practice as a career, the four organisations will conduct a campaign this summer targeted at recruitment to GP training in the autumn. The campaign will include a joint letter to all newly qualified doctors setting out the positive aspects and future of a career in general practice. The Government’s mandate to HEE requires them to ensure that 3,250 trainee doctors enter GP training programmes by 2016. This will enable further increases in the GP workforce across England.   Transforming Primary Care set out the intention to make available around 10,000 primary and community health and care professionals by 2020, in support of the shift in how care will be provided. Bringing forward substantial numbers of new GPs through training is a key part of this.

Nurses: Qualifications

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps were taken to check the professional credentials of foreign trained nurses who started work in the UK in the period before the Nursing and Midwifery Council's monitoring system was reviewed in October 2014.

Ben Gummer: The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the independent regulator of nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom and is responsible for nurse registration. We expect the NMC’s registration processes and associated checks to protect patient safety through being appropriate, robust, fit for purpose and effective, and by verifying that a nursing applicant is who they claim to be, is appropriately qualified, is competent and fit-to-practise.   On 1 October 2014, the NMC introduced a new overseas registration process, for applicants from countries outside of the European Economic Area with competency testing at its core. Prior to this an overseas nursing programme, including protected learning time and a period of supervised practice, was the route to NMC registration for overseas nurses. Since August 2013, overseas nursing applicants are required to attend a face-to-face interview and produce original versions of all the documents, including their qualifications, used in support of their application.

Urgent and Emergency Care Review

Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of progress by the NHS on implementation of the Keogh Review of urgent and emergency care; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: On 3 June 2015, NHS England invited expressions of interest from organisations and partnerships across England to become vanguard sites for new care models focusing on urgent and emergency care. These sites will test new approaches to delivering urgent care and aim to improve the coordination of services and reduce pressure on accident and emergency departments. It is expected that about five million people will be covered by the initial phase of the vanguard sites, which could be rolled out across England in the next couple of years.   Across England as a whole, new urgent and emergency care networks are being developed. These will operate strategically, to improve the consistency and quality of urgent and emergency care by bringing together System Resilience Groups (SRGs) and other stakeholders to address challenges in the urgent and emergency care system that are difficult for single SRGs to address in isolation.

Psychiatry

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the availability of talking therapies in (a) Sheffield and (b) England.

Alistair Burt: The national roll out of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme began in 2008 with the aim of helping adults with common mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression, to recover.   Over the spending review period 2010-2015 the IAPT programme received over £460 million of Government investment. The programme is supported by an outcomes based dataset, the IAPT dataset, which collects information and measures outcomes from IAPT services. The Health and Social Care Information Centre have a requirement to maintain the IAPT dataset.   The table below shows the number of referrals and waiting times to the Sheffield service compared to the same nationally:   The number of referrals entering treatment1 in the year, with mean and median waiting times (days), for IAPT services in Quarter 3, 2014-15 (October 1 to December 31).   Organisation nameReferrals2 entering treatmentMean3 waiting time to first treatment appointment (days)Median3 waiting time to first treatment appointment (days)England202,0513017NHS Sheffield CCG1,6106042 Source: IAPT Dataset   Notes:   In order to enter treatment a referral must have a first treatment appointment (an appointment with a treatment appointment type recorded) in the period.This is not distinct people, as a person can have more than one referral.Means and medians have been rounded to the nearest whole number.Data shown for England and NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group.   The National Health Service mandate for 2015/16 and “Achieving Better Access to Mental Health Services by 2020” include the commitment to introduce the first tailored access and waiting times for mental health in 2015/16.   This was accompanied by a £120 million investment – an investment of £40 million new money in 2014/15 to lay the groundwork for introducing the standards, and £80 million in 2015/16 that will be realised out of existing NHS England budgets.  One of the three access and waits standards is that 75% of people referred to the IAPT programme will be treated within six weeks of referral, and 95% will be treated within 18 weeks of referral.

Psychiatry: Sheffield

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time is in (a) Sheffield, Heeley constituency and (b) Sheffield for access to talking therapies.

Alistair Burt: The information is not available in the format requested.   The Health and Social Care Act 2012 legislated for parity of esteem between mental and physical health. We have invested £400 million to make a choice of psychological therapies available in all parts of England for those who need them. We have also invested over £120 million to introduce, for the first time, waiting times standards for mental health services – a very significant milestone on the road to parity.

Defibrillators: Prices

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what variation there is in (a) prices paid by NHS trusts for implantable defibrillators and cardiac resynchronisation defibrillators and (b) the costs for such devices that trusts pass back to NHS England.

Ben Gummer: The price paid by National Health Service trusts for devices varies significantly, as does, correspondingly, the cost passed onto the NHS. Analysis indicates the percentage difference between the lower and highest prices for duel chamber implantable defibrillators to be in the region of 90% and cardiac resynchronisation defibrillators 75%.

Defibrillators: Prices

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what clinical advice NHS England has sought in establishing best value prices and reference prices for implantable defibrillators and cardiac resynchronisation defibrillators.

Ben Gummer: NHS England has sought advice from the Complex Invasive Cardiology - Clinical Reference Group lead and clinical representatives to support the development of suggested average prices for implantable defibrillators and cardiac resynchronisation defibrillators.

Defibrillators: Prices

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which National Clinical Directors and Clinical Reference Groups have been involved in establishing best value prices and reference prices for implantable defibrillators and cardiac resynchronisation defibrillators.

Ben Gummer: When establishing the suggested average prices the Complex Invasive Cardiology - Clinical Reference Group lead and clinical representatives were involved in supporting and understanding the need for average prices for implantable defibrillators and cardiac resynchronisation defibrillators.

Medical Equipment: Prices

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what modelling NHS England has done to determine (a) the effects of trends in NHS trusts' income on (i) provision of (A) implantable defibrillators, (B) cardiac resynchronisation defibrillators and (C) other high cost devices and (ii) service viability and (b) the effects of provision of high cost devices on the future financial positions of trusts.

Alistair Burt: The costs incurred by National Health Service trusts for high cost devices such as implantable and cardiac resynchronisation defibrillators are re-charged to NHS England on a pass-through basis, i.e. the re-charge equals the cost invoiced by the supplier of the device. Correspondingly the financial impact of high cost device purchases are cost-neutral to NHS trusts and do not impact on their income and expenditure position.   However, NHS England specialised commissioning is currently supporting NHS trusts with information on European Union compliant procurement frameworks that offer better value for the taxpayer.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to NHS England of the provision of fitness for work certificates as required by the Department for Work and Pensions in the period 2014-15.

Jane Ellison: Neither the Department nor NHS England has made any assessment of the cost of the provision of fitness for work certificates.

Medical Equipment: Prices

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether NHS England plans to establish reference prices as ceiling prices above which trusts will not be reimbursed.

Ben Gummer: Trusts are obliged to charge the National Health Service the cost of the implantable devices on a pass through basis, i.e. the cost invoiced by the supplier of the device. The average prices have been issued to commissioners to help them assess value for money on device expenditure and identify potential areas for future efficiency improvements. NHS England’s current approach is not to impose a ceiling price however; we will be working closely with providers where they are not taking advantage of current market rates for devices.

Diabetes: Chiropody

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps health authorities are taking to ensure diabetics receive annual checks on their feet.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many diabetic foot clinics are in operation in the UK.

Jane Ellison: Incentivising general practitioners through the Quality and Outcomes Framework to ensure patients receive the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) care processes will increase the number of annual foot checks delivered so that patients at risk will be picked up earlier. The latest data published in the National Diabetes Audit report shows that over 85% of all those with diabetes in England and Wales received a foot examination in 2012-13. However, there is still room for improvement.   NHS England has launched the National Diabetes Footcare Audit (a new module to be incorporated into the National Diabetes Audit) which will enable all diabetes foot care services to measure their performance against NICE clinical guidelines and peer units.   According to the National Diabetes Inpatient Audit, in 2011, 58.3% of trusts had a multidisciplinary foot team, and in 2013, 71.8% of trusts had one.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Hornsey and Wood Green

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to improve A&E provision in Hornsey and Wood Green constituency.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the management of the Whittington Hospital on that hospital's performance; and if he will make a statement.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received on funding for the Whittington Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: Local clinical commissioning groups, and the NHS Trust Development Authority, are working with the management of the Whittington Hospital to improve financial performance and to ensure that access and waiting times standards are met. Ministers have had no discussions with the management of the Whittington Hospital about its performance.   The Department has made a loan facility of £23.9 million available to Whittington Health Trust. This funding will provide cover for the deficit until such time that the NHS Trust Development Authority is able to make further representations for funding on behalf of the Trust.

Food Poverty

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to Feeding Britain, published in December 2014 by the All Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Hunger in the UK, what steps his Department is taking to provide support to those suffering from food poverty in the UK.

Jane Ellison: The issues raised in the Feeding Britain report affect a number of Government Departments. Food poverty, however, it not a matter for the Department of Health.   The Department has a range of programmes to support good nutrition, such as, the Nursery Milk Scheme and the Healthy Start Scheme.

Midwives: Recruitment

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to increase the number of midwives employed in hospitals in the next five years.

Ben Gummer: The configuration of services is a matter for the local National Health Service and there is no national blueprint for how healthcare services should be organised locally, as services need to be tailored to local needs. It is for clinical commissioning groups, in conjunction with provider partners, to give assurance that processes and service specifications are in place which ensures midwifery staffing is appropriate for the delivery of safe, high quality maternity services.   The Government is working with Health Education England for the delivery of sufficient midwifery-training commissions to meet the NHS future service demands and ensure that the right workforce tools are accessible for NHS workforce planners to forecast future maternity requirements.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Health Services

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress the Government is making on support and care for patients suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Jane Ellison: The Government’s mandate to NHS England sets out the requirement for the National Health Service to demonstrate progress on preventing people from dying prematurely from respiratory disease. NHS England and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) have responsibility for determining the overall national approach to achieve this and improving clinical outcomes from healthcare services for people with respiratory disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).   Early diagnosis of COPD plays an important role in maximising the ability to manage the condition. NHS England is currently working with several pilot sites exploring different approaches to diagnosis for people with symptoms of breathlessness.   The CCG Outcomes Indicator Set also includes indicators to support CCGs to understand the progress they are making in improving outcomes for people with COPD including:   - referrals of people with COPD to a pulmonary rehabilitation programme; and - unplanned hospitalisation for people with chronic ambulatory care sensitive conditions (which includes COPD).   NHS Improving Quality in collaboration with Primary Care Information Services has developed a tool for primary care to help general practitioners improve the detection and management of COPD. It is also currently piloting new models of care for breathlessness with the aim of improving the speed and accuracy of diagnosis. This will enable patients to access appropriate treatments and therapies more quickly, improving their clinical outcomes and quality of life. COPD patients are likely to benefit from this as one of the chief causes of breathlessness is COPD.

NHS: Working Hours

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what timetable he has set to implement seven day working in the NHS.

Ben Gummer: The Government committed in its manifesto to ensuring patients can receive the hospital care they need seven days a week, and ensuring everyone can see a general practitioner seven days a week, by 2020.

Department of Health: Families

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Prime Minister's press release of 18 August 2014, what steps he is taking to assess the impact of his Department's policies on the family.

Jane Ellison: The Family Test was announced by the Prime Minister in August 2014 and introduced in October 2014 through the publication of guidance for officials - Family Test Guidance.   The objective of the Test is to introduce a family perspective to the policy making process, specifically to make the potential impacts on family functioning and relationships explicit.   The Department is working to raise awareness of the Family Test amongst its policy staff, so that the impact of policy on the family is considered as a matter of course. The Family Test is highlighted in policy induction training, which is available to staff who are new to policy roles in the Department. The Family Test is also highlighted through the PolicyKit, an online resource for the Department’s policy officials.

NHS: Working Hours

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of introducing a seven-day NHS on staff working hours.

Ben Gummer: The Government is committed to introducing a truly seven day National Health Service so that the quality of care received by patients is the same every day of the week.   We are working closely with NHS England and other NHS bodies to implement this. How these changes are implemented will depend on local priorities and needs.   We are not expecting NHS staff to work longer hours although there may need to be changes in when those hours are worked. Staff working hours must remain safe and legal.   The independent pay review bodies were asked by the last Government to advise on the implications for staff contracts of implementing seven day services. They will report this summer and we will consider their observations carefully.

Care Quality Commission: Finance

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what resources have been allocated to the Care Quality Commission to fulfil its new powers of investigation under Sections 53-56 of the Care Act 2014.

Ben Gummer: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) took on responsibility for the market oversight scheme set out in Sections 53 to 56 of the Care Act 2014, on 6 April 2015. CQC published guidance for providers on the scheme in March 2015. Forty three corporate providers of adult social care services were informed in April 2015 that they would be subject to the scheme.   The CQC is funded from two sources: fee income, levied on the health and social care providers that it regulates; and grant in aid (GIA) funding from the Department. The grant in aid allocated to the CQC for 2015/16 is £120 million. The provision of GIA, which is described as unspecific support, is intended to finance CQC’s spending including resources such as those associated with market oversight.

King George Hospital Redbridge: Accident and Emergency Departments

Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether a deadline has been given for the planned closure of accident and emergency at King George Hospital in Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Ben Gummer: This Government has always been clear that the reconfiguration of health services is a matter for the local National Health Service. All service change should be in the best interests of patients and should be led by clinicians, not driven from the top down.   The local NHS has always been clear that changes to the accident and emergency service at King George Hospital will not be made until it is safe to do so. Plans have been put on hold and cannot take place whilst Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust remains in special measures.

Nurses: Foreign Nationals

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the amount the NHS spent on recruitment of non-EU adult nurses in each of the last three years.

Alistair Burt: The Department does not collect information on the costs incurred by the National Health Service when recruiting staff. The configuration of services and the recruitment of staff required to deliver these services, is the responsibility of local NHS organisations when planning a workforce that is appropriate to deliver the health needs of their local population and which is based on clinical need and sound evidence.

Alzheimer's Disease: Social Services

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to improve the provision of social care for people with Alzheimer's disease.

Jane Ellison: The Government is clear that all types of dementia which includes Alzheimer’s disease remain a priority and will implement the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia 2020 in full to make sure that dementia care, support, awareness and research are transformed by 2020.   The 2020 Challenge set the following aspirations to improve the provision of social care for people with dementia by 2020:   - Newly appointed healthcare assistants and social care support workers, including those providing care and support to people with dementia and their carers, having undergone training as part of the national implementation of the Care Certificate, with the Care Quality Commission asking for evidence of compliance with the Care Certificate as part of their inspection regime. An expectation that social care providers provide appropriate training to all other relevant staff.   - All relevant social care staff working with adults and older people accessing social care services being supported to spot the early signs and symptoms of dementia and helping people with the condition to access high quality care and support.   - A clear evidence base for what works in training on dementia for health and social care staff, which can be used to develop smarter education and training programmes.   This builds on the progress already made under the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia 2012-2015. This includes over 100,000 social care workers having already received some form of dementia awareness training. Moreover, the Department funded the College of Social Work to develop guidance to improve the quality of practice and inform continuous professional development (CPD) for social workers, to enable high quality care and support for people with dementia and their carers.   Expenditure on adult social care and the future demand for services will be reviewed as part of the Spending Review.   This year, the Better Care Fund will provide £5.3 billion of investment in better integrated care, based on joint plans that have been developed locally, and putting resources where the local NHS and social services think it is needed.   Spending on social care is ultimately a local decision made by individual councils.   The Care Act 2014 also came into force on 1 April 2015. The Act consolidates legislation into a single statute building on a series of recommendations for reform from the Law Commission. It also places much existing best practice in the care and support sector into law for the first time – including personalisation, preventative approaches, consistency of access, and support for carers.

Nurses: Foreign Nationals

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nurses have been recruited to work in the NHS under Tier 2 visas in each year since 2010.

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nurses working in the UK on tier 2 visas have been refused indefinite leave to remain in each year since 2012.

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nurses working in the NHS under tier 2 visas and refused indefinite leave to remain have left employment within the NHS in each year since 2012.

Ben Gummer: The Department does not collect this data, the Home Office holds responsibility for the administration of applications under Tier 2 visas.

Vaccination: Children

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of (a) national and (b) regional take-up of his Department's childhood immunisation programme in each of the last three years.

Jane Ellison: Annual vaccine coverage information for all childhood immunisations is published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre. The information includes vaccine uptake rates for children at the ages of one, two and five, and is broken down by region.   The latest annual data for 2013-2014 can be viewed at:   http://www.hscic.gov.uk/article/2021/Website-Search?productid=15492&q=immunisation&sort=Relevance&size=10&page=1&area=both#top   Annual data for 2012-2013 data can be viewed at:   http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB11665   Annual data for 2011-2012 data can be viewed at:   http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB09125

Staff: Screening

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2015 to Question 1100, how many employees are represented by the 160 employers signed up to the Staff Health Check pledge.

Jane Ellison: The most recent figure available for the number of employees covered by this pledge is from July 2014 when there were 122 employers signed up to the pledge, representing 458,237 employees. However, there are currently 160 employers signed up to the Staff Health Check pledge so this number will have increased.

Motor Vehicles: Smoking

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2015 to Question 1077, on motor vehicles: smoking, whether the communications campaign is being developed by his Department or by an external agency; and what the cost of that campaign will be.

Jane Ellison: Public Health England will be running a multi-channel campaign to raise awareness of the legislation, starting in mid-September. Plans are still being finalised but will likely include advertising on radio, billboards and video on demand.

Women and Equalities

Equal Pay

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to section 147 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015, when she plans to (a) publish a consultation and (b) set a timetable for bringing forward legislative proposals on pay transparency.

Caroline Dinenage: The Government will deliver its manifesto commitment to require companies with at least 250 employees to publish gender pay information at the earliest opportunity. A consultation will be published in the Summer with a view to making regulations in early 2016.